Eclipse Weekend Launches at CT Science Center on Friday

The interstellar orbits of the Connecticut Science Center and Ballet Hartford will coincide on Friday, April 5 at 1:00 PM in Hartford, marking the start of Eclipse Weekend.

The celebration begins with an energetic preview performance by the full company of Ballet Hartford at the Connecticut Science Center, providing visitors with a glimpse of the upcoming debut of Planets, a dynamic show highlighting Gustav Holst's famous music through an imaginative series of performances inspired by the solar system’s planets.

It is also the inaugural initiative in a planned year-long collaboration between the two Hartford attractions – each popular with adults and children of all ages. The special preview performance on Friday afternoon will be included with regular admission, at no additional charge. Each planetary performance is being envisioned by a different choreographer connecting music and dance to evoke planetary characteristics. An on-site explanatory commentary highlighting each segment of the preview performance will be provided by Hannah Bush, company manager of Ballet Hartford.

On Monday, April 8, the day of the solar eclipse, the Connecticut Science Center will have eclipse activities throughout the day, from 10 AM to 5 PM, with eclipse viewing from 2 PM – 4:30 PM. It will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044.

The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1917. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the solar system and its supposed astrological character. Ballet Hartford has assembled a highly regarded array of choreographers to develop a series of singular choreographies that invoke the characteristics of each of the planets through dance.

Ballet Hartford will perform the complete program of Planets on stage in the Hoffman Auditorium on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford on Friday, May 3 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are now on sale at www.ballethartford.com. Tickets purchased online on April 8, the day of the solar eclipse, will be specially priced at 20% off, using the code ECLIPSE at checkout. Later in May, Ballet Hartford will perform excerpts from Planets at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, headlining an evening of Cosmos and Cocktails on Friday, May 17, beginning at 6:00 PM.

“We are thrilled to share our interpretation of Planets at the Connecticut Science Center,” said Ballet Hartford company manager Hannah Bush. “It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the ways that science and ballet can intersect, surrounded by inspiring music that helps enliven our journey. Being at the Science Center just days ahead of a solar eclipse is exciting and will surely be memorable for everyone in attendance.”

Throughout the year, with professional dancers from Connecticut and across the United States, Ballet Hartford produces engaging programs that uphold tradition and celebrate innovation, highlighted by technically and artistically diverse choreographic works. The company has received national and international recognition, and continues to grow in stature with increasing acclaim from local and regional audiences.

“We are thrilled to partner with local organizations such as Ballet Hartford to encourage our visitors to discover the abundance of incredible experiences available throughout the city,” said Katelyn Rutty, Communications Manager at the Connecticut Science Center. “Planets provides us a unique opportunity to collaborate with Ballet Hartford and highlight the exceptional talent in our region.”

For tickets and additional information about Ballet Hartford, visit www.ballethartford.com. To learn more about the Connecticut Science Center, including current and upcoming exhibitions and events, visit www.ctsciencecenter.org.